Bearing for dredging-machines.



PATENTED NOV. 17,1903.

. P.v SMALL. BEARING FOR DREDGING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 8, 1903'.

N0 MODEL.

11v VENTOI? 7 UN TED STATES iatented November 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BEARING FOR D-REDGING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,636, dated November17, 1903.

Application filed July 8, 1903. Serial No. 164,689. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- H

Be it known that I, PERRY SMALL, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Oroville, in the county of Butte and State of California,have invented a new and Improved Bearing for Dredging-Machines, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bearing fordredging-machines, more, particularly a bearing for the shaft on thefree end of the beam, the arrangement being such that any sand passinginto the bearing during the dredging operation is quickly andcontinually washed out to prevent the same from cutting intothe bearing,to the detriment of the proper working of the apparatus.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims. f

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, thebucket-chain being omitted. Fig. 3 is an inner'side elevation of theimprovement. Fig. 4: is a transverse section of a modified form of theimprovement, and Fig. 5 is an inner face View of'the same.

On the free ends of the side beams A A of the beam of a dredging-machineare arranged journal-boxes B B, in which are mounted to turn thejournals 0 of a shaft 0, carrying a sprocket-Wheel or drum D, for thepassage of a chain E, supporting dredging-buckets F. In each journal-boxB is formed an annular chamber B, from which leads a passage 13 to theinner end of the journal-box, and the said chamber B and passage B asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, are in the form of an enlargement of thejournal-bore at the inner end of the bearing, and as illustrated inFigs. 4and 5,

a chamber B is formed concentric with the bore, and from the chamberleads a passage supply-pipe H, extending along the beam I and connectedby a hose with a pn mp or other suitable source of water-supply. Byhaving the flexible connection between the pipe H and the pump the beamA can readily swing up and down and with it the pipes H and G, so thatwater can at all times be forced by the pump through the pipes H, G, andG into the annular chambers B and B from which'the water passes by thepassages B and B to the journal at the inner end of the bearings to washout any sand that may pass into the journal-bearing.

As illustrated in Figs. 4: and 5, the bearing B is closed at the outerend by a cap I, and

the shaft 0 is provided with a bushing J in V the bearing, and in thiscase the passage B leads to the bushing at the inner end of the bearingto prevent sand from passing between the bushing and the bore of thehearing B.

Now from the foregoing it will be seen that the journal-bearing is keptcompletely free of sand, grit, or other impurities liable to cut intothejournal and bearing, thus insuring long life'to the bearing and thejournal.

The device is very simple and durable in construction, is not liable toeasily get out of order, and can be readily applied to dredging-machinesas now constructed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A bearing provided with a journal-box having anannular chamber, from which leads a discharge-passage to the bore of thejournal-box at one end thereof, said passage being contracted at itsouter end, and a supply-pipe leading into the said chamber, as setforth.

2. A bearing provided with a journal-box having an annular chamber,frotnwhich leads an annular passage to the bore of the box; at the inner endthereof, the exit end of said passage being contracted, and a pipe con-Q nected with the said chamber and adapted to I nal received by saidannular passage being connect with a water-supply, to force water underpressure into the said chamber, and from the same by the passage ontothe journal, between the inner end of the box and the adjacent face ofthe bucket-wheel, as set forth.

3. A bearing provided with a journal-box having an annular chamber fromwhich leads an annular passage to the bore of the box at the inner endthereof, the portion of the jourconical diverging toward the open end ofthe passage, and a supply-pipe leading into said chamber. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PERRY SMALL. W'itnesses:

JERE R. CALLAHAN, HENRY C. HILLS.

